Agartala: Famous for dazzling tourists at Mizoram’s Anthurium Festival, these exotic flowers made their international debut on February 26, 2025, jetting off to Singapore in a pioneering export effort led by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and local growers. This landmark shipment signals a vibrant future for India’s floriculture industry, with the Northeastern region stepping into the global spotlight.
The initiative, a collaboration between APEDA and the Mizoram Government’s Department of Horticulture, saw the first consignment of Anthurium flowers launched from Aizawl in a hybrid physical-digital ceremony. APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev, IAS, and Ramdinliani, IAS, Special Secretary of the Mizoram Horticulture Department, officiated the event, joined by senior officials from APEDA, the Horticulture Department, Zo Anthurium Growers Cooperative Society, IVC Agrovet Pvt. Ltd., and Veg Pro Singapore Pte. Ltd.
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The shipment featured 1,008 Anthurium cut flowers, carefully packed in 50 corrugated boxes, and transported by air from Aizawl to Singapore via Kolkata. IVC Agrovet Pvt. Ltd. managed the export, with Veg Pro Singapore Pte. Ltd. receiving the blooms. Sourced from the Zo Anthurium Growers Cooperative Society in Aizawl, these flowers represent more than just beauty—they’re a lifeline for local farmers, particularly women, who rely on Anthurium cultivation for income. In Mizoram, the flower also fuels cultural pride, drawing crowds to the annual Anthurium Festival that celebrates its charm and boosts tourism.
India’s floriculture exports hit $86.62 million in the fiscal year 2023-24, and this shipment underscores the untapped potential of the Northeast. The export traces its roots to an International Conclave and Buyer-Seller Meet held on December 6, 2024, in Aizawl, hosted by APEDA and the Mizoram Government. That event linked nine global buyers from nations like Singapore, UAE, Nepal, Jordan, Oman, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Ethiopia with 24 Indian exporters, paving the way for this floral milestone.
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APEDA, tasked with advancing India’s agricultural and processed food exports, drives such breakthroughs through training, capacity-building, and buyer-seller engagements. In the Northeast, the agency partners with stakeholders to tap the region’s rich potential, offering programs for quality improvement, market outreach, and infrastructure support. This inaugural export of Anthuriums from Mizoram to Singapore highlights the success of these efforts, an official statement noted.